Brickbats and Bouquets: AA Driving School

I was riding along in the centre of a bus lane when an AA Driving School car with instructor and pupil turned left across my path and then stopped in my path to let some people cross the side road.

No harm done, I could see from their mirrors and the way the car was moving that they hadn't looked and weren't intending to stop so I had evasive manoeuvres planned and executed.

However, it's not good practice, it's contrary to the Highway Code, and FFS at least introduce learner drivers to the concept of sharing the road with cyclists.

I took the registration, time, place, date, colour/make of car, people in the car, weather conditions, road conditions and I complained to the AA Driving School complaints department.

Their reply came by hard copy letter, recorded delivery. They apologised, said they had spoken to the instructor in question, and that my complaint would stay on his file and be looked at when his franchise came to be renewed.

I did the same to an RAC chap the other year, learner parked up in an unsafe place then pulled away without indicating as I was about to pass, instructor just letting it all happen and apparently unware I was there. Never heard anything back but I did just about make him jump out of his shoes on the plus side.